The Rochester Memorial Day Boat Race on the Mattapoisett River, sponsored by the Rochester Fire Department, will take place on Memorial Day, May 28, starting at 8:30 a.m. at Grandma Hartley’s Reservoir, Snipatuit Road.

The race will finish at the Herring Weir, River Road at Route 6, in Mattapoisett.

Contestants must be seven years old on Memorial Day in order to participate. There will be two people to a boat. The boat must be a homemade river racer design of any material. There are no limitations or restrictions on types of paddles.

Registration is required. Contestants may register at the Rochester Council on Aging, 65 Dexter Lane, Friday, May 11, and Friday May 18, from 6:30-8 p.m.

Divisions include open/men’s, women’s, junior boys, junior girls, co-ed and parent/child. Junior division teams are both contestants under 14 years old. Parent/child is for a parentwith his/her child (child under 14 years old) or an adult (25 or older) with a child (child under 14 years old). Trophies are awarded to the first, second and third place finishers in each division.

Organizers note: "It may be prudent for contestants that raced last year to submit their paperwork on the first night of registration in the event of unforeseen circumstances that prevent them from attending the final registration and losing the starting position they earned based on last year’s finish position. This would also make the work load on the registration staff a bit easier on the last night of registration."

Rules and registration forms may be obtained at Lloyd’s Market and at the registration sessions. A signed registration form must be submitted by each contestant for a team to be eligible to draw a starting position.

The Boat Race Ham and Bean supper will be served on the Saturday evening of the Memorial Day weekend, May 26, from 5-7 p.m., at the Rochester Council on Aging. Tickets, which can be purchased at the door, are $10 for adults and $5 for children under age 12.

William Watling III has made two carbon fiber racing paddles, one straight shaft and one bent shaft, to be raffled separately at the supper. Raffle tickets are $5 each per paddle and may be purchased at the registration sessions and at the supper.

Proceeds from the supper, along with donations, fund the expenses of the race.

Trophies and prizes will be awarded Memorial Day at the Rochester Memorial School at 7:30 p.m.

For more information contact Boat Race Chairman Arthur F. Benner at 508-763- 2024 or email artbenner@comcast.net.